Applied Linguistics Inquiry employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, validity, and impartiality of its publications. All submitted research articles are subject to this process. The following steps outline our workflow:

2.1. Initial Editorial Evaluation Upon submission, all manuscripts undergo an initial internal evaluation by the editorial committee. The primary purpose of this stage is to assess the manuscript's suitability for the journal, including its alignment with our Aims & Scope and its adherence to fundamental formatting and ethical standards. Manuscripts that are clearly out of scope, lack scholarly merit, or fail to meet our guidelines will be rejected at this stage to provide authors with a rapid decision. This initial evaluation is typically completed within 1-2 weeks of submission.

2.2. External Peer Review Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent for external review.

• Reviewer Selection: The manuscript is assigned to a minimum of two independent, expert reviewers in the relevant field. The selection is based on their expertise, publication history, and freedom from potential conflicts of interest.

• Anonymity: The review is double-blind, meaning the identities of both the authors and the reviewers are concealed from each other throughout the process. It is the authors' responsibility to ensure their manuscript file is fully anonymized.  

   

• Reviewer Assessment: Reviewers are asked to provide a critical and constructive evaluation of the manuscript's originality, methodological rigor, clarity of presentation, and contribution to the field. They submit a detailed report and a recommendation to the editor.

• Timeline: We aim to complete the external review process within 4-8 weeks, although this may vary depending on reviewer availability.  

   

2.3. Final Editorial Decision The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision on each manuscript based on the reviewers' recommendations, their own assessment, and the manuscript's overall quality. The possible decisions are:

• Accept: The manuscript is accepted for publication.

• Minor Revisions: The manuscript is accepted pending minor revisions.

• Major Revisions: The manuscript may be accepted after substantial revisions and may be sent for a second round of review.

• Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication.

The Editor-in-Chief's decision is final.

Figures below describe this process comprehensively.